Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
Unit A: Biological Diversity
STS and Knowledge:
1. Investigate and interpret diversity among species and within species, and describe how diversity contributes
to species survival.
SIA pp. 9
Biological Diversity: the variety of species and ecosystems on Earth and the ecological processes of
which they are a part.
Ecosystem Diversity
Community and Species
Diversity
Genetic Diversity
So, what is biodiversity?
 Biodiversity refers to the number and diversity (variety) of living organisms in a
community.
 A large biodiversity assures the health and survival of natural communities because of
the many interactions possible between species.
 Environmental change is better supported when there is a large biodiversity
o Ex: a disease may kill members of a certain species but leave others untouched
(i.e. Pine Beetles in Banff National Park)
 We measure biodiversity by comparing the number of species to the total population
(the INDEX of diversity)
1. Biological diversity consists of a variety of ecosystems and species on Earth and the ecological processes they are part of. There are three
main components to biological diversity. All three are important for Alberta’s ecosystems.
The first component refers to diversity in all living and non-living things on Earth. The second component refers to the populations of species that
live in certain communities. The third component refers to the diversity found at the cellular level.
What is the correct order for the biological diversity components referred to in the article?
a) community, ecosystem, and genetic
b) community, genetic, and ecosystem
c) ecosystem, community and genetic
d) genetic, ecosystem, and community
SF pp. 8
SIA pp. 9
observe variation in living things, and describe examples of variation among species and
within species (e.g., observe and describe characteristics that distinguish two closely related
species)
Species: A group of organisms that are similar in appearance and that can reproduce offspring
with the same general characteristics that can be passed on to future generations of viable
offspring.
Example: A horse and a donkey are species. The mule, which is a hybrid of the two species
cannot reproduce viable offspring, therefore the mule is not considered a species.
Variation is differences within a group of similar living things. Therefore, no two organisms
even within the same group are alike. Variation allows for greater chances of the survival of a
population when faces with change.
Examples: Facial characteristics or hair colour of people. (Note that this is within the same
group of a breeding population).
2. Which of the following is an example of variation within a species?
a) Darwin studied a variety of finches in the Galapagos islands that had different styles of beaks.
b) Different students in a classroom have blue, brown, or green eyes.
c) A forest consists of pine, spruce and poplar trees.
d) Black bears and Grizzly bears share a meadow.
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
SF pp. 16
SIA pp. 18
SF pp. 8-10
SIA pp.
9,10,20,21
identify examples of niches, and describe the role of variation in enabling closely related
living things to survive in the same ecosystem (e.g., investigate different bird species found in
local park ecosystem, and infer how each is adapted to life within that ecosystem)
Ecosystem: any place in which living (biotic) things live and interact with other biotic and
abiotic (non-living) things
Ecosystem Diversity: the different types of communities and environments (i.e. bogs, marshes,
lakes, forests) in which biotic and abiotic things can be found
Population: members of a same species living in a specific area and sharing resources
Community: populations of different species living in the same area
Niche: A niche is the organism’s job or role in the environment or ecosystem.
Example: A hawk’s role is a predator in the environment. A fungus’ role is the breakdown of
decaying matter in the environment.
Two types of niches:
1. Broad: Certain regions permit the establishment of very large populations, but do
not support a wide variety of species
 In northern Canada, there are limited numbers of different species (little
variety). However, there is a very large caribou population.
 Organisms are generalists – they must be able to adapt to a wide variety of
environmental conditions to survive (i.e. eat a wide variety of plants, adapt to
temperature and season change)
2. Narrow : Certain organisms have very specific ecological niches that permit them to
live in close proximity with other organisms.
 Organisms are specialists since they are very effective at surviving in their
surroundings. They are so well adapted to living in their environment that they
could NOT survive in another. Thus, they cannot propagate and populate large
areas. It’s the ‘trap of specialization’!
 Examples : The macaque monkey is specialized for life in the forest canopy – as
tress are cut down it has nowhere to live!
The role of variation: Variation allows similar organisms to survive external threats. This
allows many species that may have the same niche or job to thrive even if one of the species is
eliminated from the same habitat.
Example: Different trees are producers in a boreal forest. If a disease which affects only pine
trees, wipes out the entire pine tree population, the other trees can still continue their niche.
Adaptation: species adjust to the surrounding conditions
1. Morphological: Physical Change.
2. Behavioural: Change in behaviour (i.e. migration, night hunting…)
3. An organism’s niche can be described by:
a) how an organism can change to adapt to its surroundings
b) where an organism lives and what it does
c) what type of food an organism eats
d) what kind of predators an organism has
4. Which of the following statements is correct?
a) A community refers to the same species living in an area.
b) A community consists of non-living things in the same area.
c) A population refers to all living things in an area.
d) A population consists of members of the same species.
5. Which statement best describes the niche of a wolf in Alberta?
a) The wolf, found throughout the boreal forests and mountains of Alberta, is a predator feeding on herbivores.
b) The wolf, found in the mountains of Alberta, is a consumer.
c) The wolf is a predator feeding on deer and moose.
d) The wolf lives exclusively in Banff National Park in Alberta.
SF pp. 21
SIA pp. 27-29
Investigate and interpret dependencies that link the survival of one species to the survival of
others. (Eg: by providing habitat, food, means of fertilization or a source of oxygen)
SF pp. N\A
SIA pp.17
Dependency: Organisms in any given environment depend on one another for their basic needs.
These relationships can include symbiosis, predation, general or specific types of relationships.
Example: Flowers need bees to pollinate and the bees need the nectar from the flowers.
General relationships are where trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen and most other
organisms need oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
Specific relationships involve the interaction of two groups and symbiosis and predation are two
examples.
Symbiosis is a close relationship between two different organisms over time. It can be mutual
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
where both organisms benefit. It can be commensal where one benefits and the other is
unaffected, and it can be parasitic where one benefits at the cost of the other.
Predation is where one organism kills another.
Interspecies Competition: a type of relationship between organisms where neither one benefits.
It happens when 2 or more species need the same resources.
Example: Two species compete for the same food. Thus, there is less food for each of the
species.
6. A deer in the Y2Y area was infested with ticks. What type of relationship does this best describe?
a) mutualism
b) commensalism
c) parasitism
d) competition
7. What type of interdependence between species is
represented in this graph?
a) symbiosis
b) predator-prey
c) commensalisms
d) mutualism
SF pp. 17
SIA pp. 28,29
Identify the role of variation in species survival under changing environmental conditions.
Variation in species: Variation in species allows for the survival of a species because the
differences within the characteristics allows each to deal with external threats differently.
Examples:
1. A bacterial population which is exposed to an antibiotic will be killed. However, there will be
some bacteria which can tolerate the antibiotic due to variation.
2. The peppered moth has a variety of colouring from very dark to very light. During the
industrial revolution in England, their environmental conditions changed because the factories
emitted smoke and the soot covered the trees. The light moths were eaten because they no longer
could adapt to their dark environment. The peppered moth species continued because the dark
ones survived the environmental change.
2. Investigate the nature of reproductive processes and their role in transmitting species characteristics.
SF pp. 26-28,
Distinguish between sexual and asexual reproduction and identify and interpret examples of
30
asexual and sexual reproduction in different species, by ;
SIA pp. 30,31
Sexual Reproduction involves the union of male and female sex cells and requires two parents.
Offspring are different because they have characteristics of both parents.
Asexual reproduction does not involve the union of male and female sex cells but is actually the
transmission of the same genetic information from a parent to its offspring. Basically the
offspring is an exact copy of the parent.
Describing types of asexual reproduction
Binary Fission: Asexual reproduction found in single cell organisms where the genetic
information is copied and the cell divided into two identical cells equal in size.
Example: bacteria and amoeba cells
Budding: The formation of a bud on an organism which grows to become a new organism
independent of the parent. Its DNA is identical.
Example: A hydra specimen.
Spore Production: Production of a hardcoat seed-like structure, but are produced by the
division of cells of one parent and not the union of two sex cells.
Example: A fern plant produces spores in one part of its life cycle and then produces sex cells
(zygospores) in the other part of its life cycle.
Vegetative Reproduction: Involves only plants where a new plant can be formed from the
vegetative parts of the parent. Example: Runners in strawberries, the eyes on the potatoes,
cuttings of colius plants, the bulbs of daffodils and tulips, and suckers from aspen trees.
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
8. You observe vegetative reproduction as a method of asexual reproduction. What are three other forms of asexual reproduction?
a) spore production, pollination, budding
b) pollination, fertilization, budding
c) spore production, budding, binary fission
d) budding, fertilization, spore production
9. It is observed that many maple trees in an area are developing
shoots or suckers. What form of reproduction does this represent?
a) spore
b) budding
c) vegetative
d) binary fission
SF pp. 30-35
SIA pp. 32-33
10. Which of the following organisms is most likely to reproduce
asexually?
a) salmon
b) frogs
c) mushrooms
d) kangaroos
Describing representative types of sexual reproduction
Bacterial Conjugation: This is the primitive type of sexual reproduction. One bacterium grows
a tube-like structure and passes on a copy of its DNA to another bacterium.
Example: bacteria
SIA pp. 35
Plant and animal reproduction: This involves two parents whose sex cells undergo a process
called meiosis where the DNA of each parent is divided in half and transmitted to the offspring.
The offspring receive half of the genetic information from each parent.
Example: Humans have 46 chromosomes and a person gets 23 chromosomes from their mother
and 23 chromosomes from their father.
Describing examples of organisms that show both sexual and asexual
Reproduction
Plants: Plants can reproduce by making seeds. Seeds are made by the union of sperm cells
within a pollen grain and an egg cell produced by the ovary of the female plant structure. Plants
can also reproduce by cuttings, suckers, runners, and bulbs. Example: asparagus, potatoes,
spider plant
Yeast can reproduce by both budding and sexual reproduction.
11. On a field trip to a provincial park, a naturalist shows you several things.

When a starfish loses its arm, it can grow it back and the lost arm has the ability to grow a new starfish.

Salmon return every four years to spawn in the stream where they hatched.

Sea Anemones live in colonies along the shore; some colonies consist of over 100 identical sea anemones. This means they are all
clones.

Sponges and sea slugs can reproduce sexually and asexually.
Which animals described by the naturalist are examples of sexual reproduction?
a) starfish and seas anemones
b) sponges and starfish
c) sea slugs and sea anemones
d) salmon and sponges
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SF pp. 30-35
SIA pp. 32-33
SF pp. 33
SIA pp. 33
Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
Describing the formation of zygote and embryo in plant and animal reproduction
Sexual reproduction in plants and animals involves the joining of male and female sex cells
called gametes.
Plants:
Angiosperm: flowering plant
Gymnosperm: plant that produces seeds inside of cones
Self-pollination: the sperm and the egg (the two gametes) come from the same plant
Cross-pollination: gametes come from two different plants
Plants usually produce both male and female gametes although some species produce only male
or only female. The flowers are the reproductive structures of the plant. The pollen is a hard
structure that contains the male gametes. The pollen is found on the male reproductive structure
called the stamen. Pollen is made in the anther of the stamen. Animals, wind, and water can
transfer the pollen to the female reproductive structure called the pistil. Sperm that are in the
pollen travel to the egg via a tube cell in the ovary of the pistil and fuse together to form a
zygote. A zygote is the first stages of a new developing plant. The two seed leaves called
cotyledons which feed the plant while it grows plus the embryo surrounded by a hard coat is
called a seed. A plant embryo is a young developing multicelled organism which contains a
miniature leaf (epicotyl), root (radical) and stem (hypocotyl).
11
2
9
3
10
12. Match the number in the diagram to the correct label
below.
____
____ ____ ____
pistil anther ovary stamen
1
4
5
8
6
SF pp. 35
SIA pp. 32
7
Animals: In animals, males and females make sex cells called gametes that must arrive at the
same time to fuse together in a process called fertilization. A liquid environment is necessary
for the sex cells because they are delicate and can dry out easily. In frogs where sexual
reproduction is external, the reproduction takes place in the water and the sperm swim to the
eggs in the water. In human, the male body produces semen which contains sperm. In animals
such as sponges, frogs, amphibians, reproduction is external (occurs outside the body). In
animals like insects, mammals, birds, and reptiles, fertilization occurs internally.
Internal fertilization has a high rate of success because it protects the embryo from the climate
and from predators
External fertilization poses extreme risk because gametes could be eaten by predators or washed
away by the currant. They can also be subjected to extreme temperature, come in contact with
pollutants or be deprived of oxygen. The majority of gametes are lost or destroyed.
When sperm and egg meet, they form a zygote.
As the zygote develops after many cell divisions, it is called the embryo. In animals, an
embryo is a multi-cellular organism during early development.
**How many chromosomes are there in a zygote? In an embryo?
13. During sexual reproduction, the sperm unites with the egg in the process of fertilization. What is created by the joining of these two cells?
a) a gamete
b) a zygote
c) an embryo
d) a bud
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
SF pp. 37,38
SIA pp. 28
Describe examples of variation of characteristics within a species, and identify examples of
both, discreet and continuous variation.
Discreet variation refers to a trait that has only a few physical expressions. This means that
there is limited ways of showing this trait.
Example: Crossing your arms or clasping your hands. Which arm is on top, which thumb is on
top? When crossing your arms, the right hand up is dominant in our current human population
and left hand up is recessive. When clasping your hands, the right thumb over the top is
dominant in our current human population and the left thumb over the top is recessive.
Continuous variation refers to a trait that has a range of expressions.
Example: There is a range of hair colour or eye colour, height, etc.
14. Which of the following is an example of discrete variation in
genetics?
a) weight
b) skin color
c) height
d) blood type
SF pp. Pg.37
SIA pp. 39
15. Prairie dogs captured in a proposed study area were all different
in size and in mass. Which term best describes this range of
characteristics?
a) heritable characteristic
b) discrete variation
c) non-heritable characteristic
d) continuous variation
Investigate the transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring, and
identify examples of characteristics in offspring that are :
the same as the characteristics as the parents
Racial features such as single or double folded eyelids (asian-white),
SF pp. 30-35
SIA pp. 32-33
the same as the characteristic of one parent
As one of your parents, you will be either male or female.
SF pp. 41
SIA pp. 53
intermediate between parent characteristics
Eye colour, height, weight, hand span, feet size.
SF pp. 41
SIA pp. 53
different from both parents
Red and white snap dragons can produce a pink snap dragon. The offspring gets
chromosomes from each parent that enable it to produce both white and red pigments. The
expression of one is not dominant over the other therefore an intermediate colour is produced.
This pattern is called intermediate or incomplete dominance.
16. Purebred white snapdragons and purebred red snapdragons were planted in flowerbeds at the zoo. The following year, pink snapdragons
appeared. What pattern of inheritance explains this colour change?
a. incomplete dominance
b. recessiveness
c. dominance
d. co-dominance
SF pp. 42
SIA pp. 32-33
Distinguish those characteristics that are heritable from those that are not heritable and
identify characteristics for which heredity and environment may both play a role.
Heritable: Heritable traits can be passed on from parent to offspring but non-heritable traits
cannot be passed to offspring. The development of an organism is affected by the genetic makeup it receives from its parents but its development can also be affected by the environment.
Example: Your eye colour is inherited from your parents, however a scar is not.
Example of environment vs. genetic: Height and weight are largely determined by genetics but a
person’s diet can affect how heavy they become.
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
17. What are the roles of heredity and environment in a person’s
scar tissue?
a) heredity plays a role, but environment does not
b) environment plays a role, but heredity does not
c) both heredity and environment play a role
d) neither heredity nor environment play a role
SF pp. 40
SIA pp. 50-52
18. Which of the following is a heritable characteristic?
a) athletic ability
b) ability to play the piano
c) eye color
d) colour of dyed hair
Identify examples of dominant and recessive characteristics and recognise that dominance and
recessiveness provide only a partial explanation for the variation of characteristics in
offspring.
Some genes are described as dominant because they are expressed or visible in the offspring. A
recessive trait is an inherited trait that shows up in the offspring only if that trait is passed to the
offspring by both parents. When mixed with dominant traits, the recessive trait does not show up.
Purebred: refers to a plant or animal whose ancestors all with the same form of a trait
Hybrid: an organism created by crossing two purebred parents
A summer job at a plant research station requires you to identify pure and hybrid strains of flowers. Pure strains can be either red or white.
Seeds from the first generation of parents were planted. The following observations were made.
A. Parent 1 and Parent 2: Offspring are all red
B. Parent 3 and Parent 4: 3 red and 1 white offspring
C. Parent 5 and Parent 6: 1 red, 2 pink, 1 white offspring
D. Parent 7 and Parent 8: No offspring
19. Which set of parents were purebred?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
20. Which sets of parents were hybrids?
a. A and B
b. B and C
c. A and C
d. A and D
21. Which sets of parents demonstrated
incomplete dominance?
a. A
b. B
c. C
d. D
22. In the offspring of a purebred dark brown lioness and a purebred light-coloured lion, you observe that all the offspring are dark brown. How
do you explain this observation?
a) The light color is an incomplete dominant trait.
b) The dark colour is a dominant trait.
c) The white colour is a dominant trait.
d) The dark colour is a recessive trait.
2.
Describe in general terms the role of genetic materials in the continuity and variation of species
characteristics and investigate and interpret related technologies.
SF pp. 46-51
Describe in general terms the relationship of chromosomes, genes and DNA and interpret
SIA pp. 40-43
their role as repositories of genetic information.
DNA is a molecule that stores genetic information for heritable traits in all living organisms and
directs the structures and functions of the cell. It is the blueprint of human fabric. A
chromosome is tightly packed strands of DNA in a cell visible under a light microscope during
cell division. A gene is a section of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific protein
and function. An allele is a variation of a gene. Ex: White and red colours are variations or
alleles that are codes for pigment in snap dragons.
Structure of DNA: “double helix”. It looks like a coiled ladder. The sides are made of
alternating units of sugar and phophate. The rungs are pairs of nitrogen bases:
Adenine always pairs with Thymine.
Cytosine always bonds with Guanine.
Genetic Code: The sequences of nitrogen bases in a DNA molecule makes up a code.
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
23. Different forms of the same gene are called
a) chromosomes
b) genotypes
c) hybrid
d) alleles
SF pp. 51
SIA pp. 46-47
24. Which of the following is a characteristic of genes in humans?
a) Genes are 46 in number.
b) Genes are tightly packed strands of DNA visible under a light microscope.
c) Genes contain the chromosomes.
d) Genes come in pairs.
Distinguish between cell division that leads to identical daughter cells as in binary fission and
cell division that leads to formation of sex cells as in meiosis.
Meiosis – cell reproduction in which the original number of chromosomes is divided in half in
the daughter cells.
Mitosis and binary fission - cell reproduction in which the chromosomes are duplicated into
both daughter cells so that each daughter cell has the same number of chromosomes as the
original parent.
25. When a human zygote begins to divide into two
cells, this begins the process known as
a) mitosis
b) binary fission
c) budding
d) meiosis
SF pp. N\A
SIA pp. 35
26. While studying cell division in animals at the zoo, you discover that cells with
only half of the DNA of the animals’ body cells are found. What method of cell
division is occurring?
a) mitosis
b) gamete
c) meiosis
d) fertilization
Compare sexual and asexual reproduction in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Eg:
Recognize that asexual reproduction provides an efficient means of transmitting
characteristics and that sexual reproduction provides an opportunity for a recombination of
characteristics.
Sexual Reproduction:
Disadvantages
Advantages
mixing of traits - the means of sexual reproduction may not be as efficient
to produce new - need the right conditions and both sexes
traits creating
- takes a lot of energy and requires a lot of time
greater
- can only produce a limited number of offspring because of the limited
variation.
time and energy.
Asexual Reproduction:
Advantages:
-doesn’t require specialized cells or a way of
bringing the sex cells together
- can make a lot of individuals quickly.
Disadvantages:
makes copies of oneself and there are no
variations
27. What is an advantage of sexual reproduction?
a) can reproduce by bringing specialized gametes together
b) can reproduce without bringing specialized gametes together
c) provides a large degree of variation
d) produces a limited number of offspring
SF pp. 58
SIA pp. 24, 66
Distinguish between and identify examples of natural and artificial selection.
Natural Selection: Nature decided which organism survives to reproduce and pass on their traits
to the offspring. Ex: Those which resist disease, famine, environmental disasters such as
hurricanes and tornadoes.
Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection: Survival of the fittest! The best adapted organisms
survive the environment.
1. All organisms produce more offspring than can possibly survive.
2. There is incredible variation within each species.
3. Some of these variations increase the chances of an organism surviving to reproduce.
4. Over time, the variations that are passed on lead to changes in the genetic characteristics
of a species.
Example: long neck in girafes.
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
Artificial Selection: Man decided which traits will be passed on to offspring. (aka selective
breeding)
Ex: Pears, apples, dogs, cats, dairy cows, wheat.
28. A research centre has developed a new type of weed-eating fish. The fish can be used in irrigation canals where there is heavy weed growth.
This special type of fish was developed through the process of
a) natural selection
b) artificial selection
c) adaptive evolution
d) selective evolution
29. Which of the following is an example of natural selection?
a) over time, mosquitoes become more resistant to insecticide
b) salmon are prevented from reaching their spawning grounds by a dam which is constructed in a river
c) a farmer keeps some eggs back from chickens which lay the most, in order to hatch them
d) researchers create a type of wheat that develops and matures faster, for use in colder climates
SF pp. 53-56
SIA pp. 66-69
Describe in simple terms some of the newly emerging technologies for recombining genetic
material and identify questions and issues related to their application.
Cloning – The technique where the complete set of DNA is taken out of cell of an organism
and inserted into an enucleated egg cell (DNA of the egg is removed). The result is an embryo
that is an identical copy of the orginal parent. Ex: Dolly the sheep was successfully born in a
laboratory. However, she was the clone of a three year old sheep and her cells rapidly aged to
that of a three year old sheep.
Genetic Engineering - The removal a gene from the DNA of a cell. A new section of DNA is
inserted in this spot. In order for this to work, the new DNA must have the same complementary
ends. Scientists use enzymes to cut sections of DNA. Examples: Firefly gene inserted into a
tabacco plant so that the tabacco plant grows in the dark. A goat that milks silk.
Artificial Reproductive Technologies - artificial insemination (sperm is harvested from a male
with desirable characteristics and inserted into many females) and in vitro fertilization (both
sperm and egg are harvested from desirable animals and fertilized in a Petri dish).
30. The owner of a flower shop wants to use artificial selection techniques to create identical copies of one particular type of rose. What would
be the best method to use?
a) artificial insemination
b) cloning
c) genetic engineering
d) in vitro fertilization
31. Researchers at Memorial University in Newfoundland inserted an ‘anti freeze’ gene into Atlantic salmon to prevent their blood from freezing,
thus allowing fishers to harvest all winter long. This technology that directly alters the DNA of an organism is called
a) biotechnology
b) genetic engineering
c) artificial insemination
d) in vitro fertilization
3.
Identify impacts of human action on species survival and variation within species, and analyze related issues
for decision-making.
SF pp.73-76
Describe the relative abundance of species on Earth.
SIA pp. 67-71
Example: Insect diversity is greater in tropical climates than at the temperate zones. One hectare
of rainforest may have over eighteen thousand species of beetles whereas in all of Canada and
United States there are only twenty four thousand species of beetles.
Describe ongoing changes in biological diversity through extinction and extirpation of native
species, and investigate the role of environmental factors in causing these changes
Extinction is the disappearance of every individual of a species from the entire planet. Example:
the dinosaurs
Extirpation is the disappearance of a species from a particular area. Example: the grizzly bear
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Unit A Study Guide: Science 9
from the prairies. Grizzly bears are now only found on mountains.
See page 59 SIA
Natural causes of extinction:
- Catastrophic events like volcanoes, floods, and fire.
- Lack of food due to overpopulation
- Disease
- Overspecialization in a single niche (too suited to a specific area) Ex: Panda eats only
bamboo and a Koala eats only eucalyptus.
Human causes of extinction and extirpation:
- Habitat destruction through activities like logging, damming, construction
- Introduction of non-native species. Example: cattle were introduced in North America and
competed with Bison.
- Over-hunting. Example: passenger pigeons
32. The woodland caribou is at risk of disappearing from the boreal
forests of northern Alberta due to habitat degradation. When an
organism disappears from a specific area, it has been
a) extirpated
b) vulnerable
c) threatened
d) extinct
SF pp. 73-76
SIA pp. 72-76
33. Which of the following is NOT a natural cause of extinction?
a) introduction of non-native species
b) catastrophic events
c) starvation due to overpopulation
d) disease
Evaluate the success and limitations of various local and global strategies for minimizing loss
of species diversity.
Insitu conservation – maintenance of wild populations in their functioning ecosystems. The
creation of these protected areas from national, provincial, and municipal governments.
- Developing protected areas which allow organisms to live undisturbed in their natural
habitat
- Restoring ecosystems and species – setting up programs to reintroduce species into their
natural habitats.
Ex-Situ Conservation:
- Breeding endangered populations in zoos.
- Development of seed banks – keep a record or sample of all of the species of plants and in
some cases a large storage of a particular type. P 75 SF
-
Treaties to protect endangered species.
Investigate and describe the use of biotechnology in environmental, agricultural or forest
management; and identify potential impacts and issues.
- Discuss issues related to the development of patented crop varieties and varieties that require
extensive chemical treatments, selective breeding in game farming and in the rearing of fish
stocks.
What is a seed bank?
a) DNA of threatened organisms is collected and saved for future use
b) Seeds are kept in containers in a lab
c) A method of genetic engineering for plants
d) A method of in-situ conservation
Threatened or vulnerable animals are often protected by preserving their functioning ecosystem in a natural setting. What form of conservation is
this?
a) ex-situ conservation
b) restoration
c) in-situ conservation
d) zoos
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4.
Appendix A- diagrams
Diagram 1 : SIA Page 33
Diagram 2.10 pg. 32 SIA- Animal Sexual Reproduction
Figure 3.11 pg.47 SIA Cell Division
Figure 3.13 and 3.14 pages 50-51 SIA: Dominant and Recessive Traits
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